BOSTON, MA — The Massachusetts State Police held their annual Spring Awards Ceremony at the State House Grand Staircase on Monday, May 22, 2017 at 11am.
The ceremony was led by Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Public Safety Secretary Daniel Bennett, and State Police Colonel Richard McKeon.
Nearly two dozen people, including State Troopers, firefighters, and private citizens, were honored for lifesaving actions performed during 10 separate incidents or emergencies during the summer, fall and early winter.
One of those honorees was Wilmington resident Michael Carroll, who serves as a patrol operator with the MassDOT Highway Assistance Patrol.
On November 22, 2016, the State Police-Andover Barracks received a call reporting that a passenger was unresponsive in a vehicle pulled over on Route 93 in Woburn. Trooper Jennifer Penton was dispatched, as was the Route 93 Help Van, driven by Mr. Michael Carroll. The Help Van was equipped with an automated external defibrillator (AED).
Mr. Carroll reached the scene first and observed a woman performing CPR on the unresponsive man. Mr. Carroll took control of the situation. He checked for the man’s pulse. After not locating one, he retrieved the AED from his van. While calming bystanders who were under duress because of the situation, Mr. Carroll placed the AED’s pads on the man in order to analyze him with the device. The AED indicated not to shock the patient and instructed that CPR should be continued. Mr. Carroll and the woman who has initially been performing CPR then began administering two-person CPR to the victim.
At that point, Mr. Carroll communicated by emergency radio that he believed the man suffered from an overdose and requested that a trooper with the overdose-reversal drug Narcan respond to the scene. Trooper Penton arrived shortly thereafter, administered a Narcan dose and revived the man.
For her quick response to the render the aid necessary to revive the unresponsive victim, Trooper Jennifer J. Penton was awarded the Division Commander’s Award.
For his quick response and decisive action — analyzing the unresponsive man, performing CPR, determining the cause of the emergency and summoning the appropriate response to save the victim’s life — Mr. Michael Carroll was commended in Personnel Orders and awarded the Massachusetts State Police Lifesaving Award.
(NOTE: Much of the above information and photos are from the Massachusetts State Police.)
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